NEST

About NEST

Nest is a casual fine dining restaurant located inside the Kamana Lakehouse Hotel on Fernhill Road in Queenstown, describing itself as infused with the warmth of Central Otago hospitality. The seasonal menu is built around ingredients sourced from trusted local producers, offered either as a three-course experience or a full degustation.

The drinks list celebrates New Zealand's beverage scene, with a curated selection of New Zealand wines, an inventive cocktail list, locally made craft beers, and a range of award-winning New Zealand spirits chosen to complement the food. Diners take in views of The Remarkables and Lake Wakatipu through floor-to-ceiling windows, and can retreat afterwards to a cosy lounge bar with suspended fireplaces.

Beyond dinner, Nest also serves breakfast daily and offers lounge bites and room service, alongside kids menus for both breakfast and dinner. The venue hosts private dining, weddings and meetings, and gift cards are available for purchase online.

Nest at Kamana Lakehouse: Casual Fine Dining Above Lake Wakatipu

Set inside the Kamana Lakehouse Hotel on Fernhill Road, Nest describes itself as casual fine dining infused with the warmth of Central Otago hospitality. It's a restaurant built around views as much as flavour, with floor-to-ceiling windows framing The Remarkables and Lake Wakatipu across the dining room.

A menu shaped by the seasons

Nest's kitchen leans on ingredients sourced from trusted local producers, turning them into dishes described as both familiar and delightfully inventive. Diners choose between a three-course menu — any entrée, main and dessert — or a fuller degustation experience that adds an amuse bouche, appetiser, starter and palate cleanser ahead of the main courses. The current dinner lineup includes a braised Fiordland venison donut with black garlic purée, a citrus cured Mount Cook salmon, and Bluff octopus with burnt carrot romesco, followed by mains like a Southern Station wagyu beef with pressed short rib and mushroom XO, or a market fish served with pickled diamond clams. Desserts lean into New Zealand ingredients too, including a mānuka honey and cinnamon brûlée and a whipped ricotta cheesecake with confit rhubarb.

Drinks built around New Zealand

The drinks list is designed to match the food, drawing on New Zealand's wine, beer and spirits scene. Expect a thoughtfully curated wine list, an innovative cocktail programme, locally made craft beers, and a selection of award-winning New Zealand spirits, all chosen to complement the seasonal menu.

Lounge bites and a cosy retreat

After dinner, or for a more casual visit, Nest's lounge bar serves a separate menu of lounge bites and room service items — think a New Zealand cheese selection with Central Otago honeycomb, a charcuterie board, blue cod brandade, or a Lake Ohau wagyu pastrami croque monsieur. The lounge itself is built for lingering, with suspended fireplaces and a well-crafted drink to close out the evening.

Breakfast with a local touch

Nest also opens daily for breakfast, running from 7am to 11am. The breakfast menu ranges from a smashed avocado with Royalburn Station poached eggs to spicy Turkish eggs with hazelnut dukkah, a shakshouka, and a steak and egg featuring Savannah sirloin. The Kamana Package pairs any à la carte breakfast item with Allpress coffee, a TeaTotal tea selection, and juice.

Families and events

Nest caters to younger guests with kids menus at both breakfast and dinner, and the venue also hosts private dining, weddings and meetings for those wanting a larger occasion. Guests are asked to flag any dietary restrictions in advance, as dishes are prepared as listed and the kitchen cannot guarantee to be free from allergen traces.

Visiting Nest

Nest is open daily. Breakfast runs 7am to 11am, dinner runs 5pm to 8.30pm (last seating) from October to June and 4.30pm to 8pm (last seating) from July to September, and the lounge runs from 4pm to 10pm. Reservations should be made directly through Nest's official website, as third-party booking sites are not affiliated with the restaurant and any bookings made through them won't reach the team.

Signature items

• Braised Fiordland Venison Donut
• Southern Station Wagyu Beef
• Bluff Octopus
• Blue Cod Brandade
• Mānuka Honey & Cinnamon Brûlée
• Steak and Egg

Menu

Dessert

• Whipped Ricotta Cheesecake — Confit rhubarb and curd, mandarin sorbet, rosemary and pistachio crumble.
• Butternut Squash Mousse — Spiced olive oil sponge, pear and raisin purée, sage ice cream, pumpkin seed streusel.
• Mānuka Honey & Cinnamon Brûlée — Smoked pear mousse, vanilla crème fraîche, buttermilk thyme sorbet, almond crumble.
• Dark Chocolate & Date Sponge — Tamarillo compote, caramelised white chocolate ice cream, coffee butterscotch sauce, walnut crumble.

EntréEs

• Braised Fiordland Venison Donut — Lentil and swede 'risotto', swede chutney, black garlic purée, honey and thyme glaze.
• Citrus Cured Mount Cook Salmon — Burnt avocado purée, buttermilk and dill dressing, pickled green chilli.
• Bluff Octopus — Burnt carrot romesco, citrus vinaigrette, compressed cucumber, spiced almond praline.
• Salted Kohlrabi — Sourdough crumpet, burnt Granny Smith apple, mānuka honey, ricotta salata.

Breakfast

• Kamana Package — An à la carte breakfast item with Allpress coffee, TeaTotal tea selection and juice.
• Salmon Brioche Bagel — Hot smoked Aoraki fresh water salmon, whipped dill cream cheese, pickled red onion, crispy capers, lemon.
• Smashed Avocado — Wholemeal loaf, Royalburn Station poached eggs, mixed seeds, whipped almond.
• Spicy Turkish Eggs — Garlic and cumin labneh, poached eggs, spiced butter, hazelnut dukkah, grilled flatbread.
• Field Mushroom & Spinach Ragu — House-made crumpet, almond 'ricotta', parsley pesto, shaved parmesan.
• Pancakes — Gianduja cremeux, orange marmalade, Quick Brown Fox coffee syrup, candied nuts, vanilla ice cream.
• Pulled Pork — Agria rosti, scrambled eggs, tomato harissa, spiced pickled cucumber.
• Shakshouka — Baked eggs, braised tomato, cumin, paprika, chickpeas, coriander, kibitz bread.
• Frozen Berry Smoothie Bowl — Mixed berry, walnut and almond crunchy granola, banana.
• Eggs on Toast — Scrambled eggs, sliced toast, with choice of cured bacon or cold smoked salmon.
• Steak and Egg — Savannah sirloin steak cooked medium, fried free range egg, crushed potato and capsicum hash, salsa verde.
• Kids Package — Eggs on toast or chocolate pancakes with vanilla ice cream, plus a juice, for under 14s.

Set Menus

• Three Course Menu — Choice of any entrée, main and dessert.
• Degustation Menu — Amuse bouche, appetiser, starter and palate cleanser, plus a choice of entrée, main and dessert.

Main Course

• Lumina Lamb Loin — Glazed lamb belly, kale salsa verde, curried parsnip, horseradish yoghurt.
• Southern Station Wagyu Beef — Pressed short rib, mushroom XO, salted ox tongue, smoked leek, beef fat crumble.
• Market Fish — Celeriac and apple rémoulade, pickled diamond clams, celery root velouté, watercress oil.
• Miso Glazed Eggplant — Crispy Remarkable Fungi oyster mushroom, hazelnut cream, buckwheat dukkah, basil dressing.

Kids Menu (Dinner)

• Fish & Chips — A kids main option.
• Chicken & Chips — A kids main option.
• Tomato Pasta — A kids main option.
• Chocolate Brownie — Served with vanilla ice cream.

Lounge Bites & Room Service

• Spiced Roasted Nuts — Gluten friendly, dairy free, vegan.
• New Zealand Cheese Selection — Central Otago honeycomb, brioche, sesame lavosh, candied walnuts, chutney.
• Charcuterie Selection — New Zealand cheese, premium cold cuts, Turkish bread, pickles, chutney.
• Blue Cod Brandade — Egg yolk, candied lemon, crispy leeks, fennel salt crackers.
• Twice Cooked Potatoes — Mustard dressing, pickled shallots, dates.
• Free Farmed Pork Belly Skewers — Green onion 'Kiwi' dip, hazelnut and chilli.
• Kamana Whole Meal Loaf — Roasted bone marrow butter, beef fat crumble.
• Market Fish Sliders — Tempura batter, sauce gribiche, pickled cucumber.
• Lake Ohau Wagyu Pastrami 'Croque Monsieur' — Whitestone cheddar, toasted brioche, mustard mayonnaise.
• Churros — Cinnamon sugar, dulce de leche.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Nest located?

Inside the Kamana Lakehouse Hotel at 139 Fernhill Road, Queenstown.

What kind of dining does Nest offer?

Casual fine dining with a seasonal menu, available as a three-course meal or a full degustation.

What are Nest's opening hours?

Breakfast is 7am–11am daily. Dinner runs 5pm–8.30pm (last seating) October to June, and 4.30pm–8pm (last seating) July to September. The lounge is open 4pm–10pm daily.

Does Nest have a kids menu?

Yes, at both dinner (fish and chips, chicken and chips, or tomato pasta, with a chocolate brownie dessert) and breakfast (eggs on toast or chocolate pancakes).

Can Nest cater to dietary requirements?

Guests are asked to advise of any dietary restrictions in advance; the kitchen cannot guarantee dishes are free from allergen traces and dishes cannot be altered.

Does Nest host private events?

Yes, Nest offers private dining, weddings and meetings.

How do I book a table at Nest?

Directly through Nest's official website — third-party booking sites are not affiliated and bookings through them won't reach the restaurant.

Tips

• {"body":"Third-party reservation sites like Auto-reserve are not affiliated — book through Nest's official website to guarantee your table.","title":"Book directly with Nest"}
• {"body":"For a fuller experience, the degustation adds an amuse bouche, appetiser, starter and palate cleanser to the three-course menu.","title":"Consider the degustation"}
• {"body":"Dinner's last seating shifts between October–June and July–September, so confirm the current hours before booking.","title":"Check seasonal dinner times"}
• {"body":"The lounge bar with suspended fireplaces is a good spot for a drink after dinner.","title":"Stay on for the lounge"}
• {"body":"Dishes can't be altered on request, so mention any dietary restrictions when booking.","title":"Flag dietary needs early"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Kids menus are available at both breakfast and dinner.","dietary":"Guests should advise of dietary restrictions in advance; some dishes are marked gluten friendly, dairy free or vegan, and the kitchen cannot guarantee dishes are free from allergen traces."}